-

The journey to Sumeru was long, but neither Yoshika nor Furina had any intention of delaying. After their conversation with Yae Miko, it was clear that Wanderer held more answers than he had given, and if he was heading to Sumeru, then so were they.

They left Inazuma by boat, sailing toward Liyue before continuing overland. The misty mountains and golden plains of Liyue passed them by, but neither of them were in the mood to sightsee. Yoshika remained quiet, lost in thought, while Furina did her best to mask her own nerves with over-the-top complaints about travel conditions.

By the time they reached the forests of Sumeru, the air was thick with humidity, and the scent of flora surrounded them. The towering trees and bioluminescent plants painted a world far different from the cool elegance of Fontaine or the icy landscapes of Snezhnaya.

Furina, despite her dramatic complaints, looked around in fascination. “You know, I was here once. But it was during official matters, so I didn’t get to explore much.”

Yoshika hummed in response, eyes scanning their surroundings. “We should find someone who knows Wanderer’s whereabouts.”

Furina sighed. “And who would that be? He doesn’t exactly leave calling cards.”

Yoshika smirked. “No. But Nahida might.”

Furina blinked. “You mean the Dendro Archon?”

“She’s the only god still in direct contact with Celestia,” Yoshika explained. “If anyone knows what Wanderer is up to, it’s her.”

Furina hesitated. She had never personally spoken to Nahida, though she had heard of her. A god so different from herself—gentle, thoughtful, but also underestimated.

"Do you think she’ll help us?" Furina asked.

Yoshika shrugged. "We’ll find out soon enough."

As they made their way deeper into the rainforest, the sounds of wildlife surrounded them. Fireflies flickered in the distance, and the sky above glowed faintly with the residual light of Sumeru’s artificial stars.

For a moment, it was peaceful.

Then, a rustle in the trees.

Both of them tensed.

From the shadows, a figure stepped forward. Not Wanderer.

But someone else entirely.

Someone who had been waiting for them.

—
𝖠𝖭 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾: 𝖸𝖺𝗒𝗒 𝗌𝗎𝗆𝖾𝗋𝗎𝗎